8 replies to this topic

[alpder]

End-pieces and gutter-clamps from old Paddy Hopkirk commercial roofbars:

 IMG_20251227_104017548.jpg   62.32K   2 downloads

 

Add longways bars (19mm x 1.6mm wall):

 IMG_20251227_122047530.jpg   95.9K   3 downloads

 

Home-bodged hoop roller:

 IMG_20251227_122930166.jpg   35.19K   1 downloads

 

Mitre front and back cross-pieces to the longways bars (19mm x 1.2mm wall):

 IMG_20251227_171141187_HDR.jpg   80.21K   4 downloads

 

Add more cross-pieces, additional longways bars, and some 3DP rubber feet:

 IMG_20260105_100743848.jpg   69.54K   5 downloads

 

Now at the stage of eyeing it up on the roof for a few days, deciding whether to bin it and start again, or take it for powder-coat.

[mbolt998]

It looks pretty good!

[Rubbershorts]

From what we can make out from the pictures it looks good. The following of the contour of the roof is nice. Daz.

[Spider]

Nice work !

[Lord Oversill]

Great job, even if you don’t like it I’m sure some would be very interested in buying it from you? A couple of surfboards would complete the picture….

[alpder]

I’m sure some would be very interested in buying it from you? A couple of surfboards would complete the picture….

If only my welding was a bit prettier...

Edited by alpder, 05 January 2026 - 08:45 PM.

[coopertaz]

looks better following roof line than flat normal types, only issue will be when tying boards or other timer to it due to curve. That was when i used mine

[alpder]

looks better following roof line than flat normal types, only issue will be when tying boards or other timer to it due to curve. That was when i used mine

Yeah, if I did it again I'd have maybe 1" less lift on the curves. Made it mainly for the appearance - and to occasionally carry a Hacky Racer bodyshell. Pondering whether to fit some ash strakes on it.

Edited by alpder, 06 January 2026 - 03:38 PM.

[Cooperman]

Ah, roof racks. They were very popular back when a Mini was, for most of us our only car.

I recall my wife driving from our home in Hitchin to Oulton Park Circuit with 4 Lotus Cortina wheels with racing tyres for a rally stage. She was driving my 998 Cooper, but only two of the Ford wheels would fit into the Mini, so I borrowed a roof rack. Two of the Ford wheels went onto the roof and the fuel consumption dropped from around 40 mpg to 25 mpg, which with a 5.5 gallon tank made the range a bit short.

 

Yours does look like a nice job and it will be useful if you want to use the car for a holiday trip. Well done.